New Energy Solutions
Your Guide to Solar Roof Tiles
The renewable energy industry is constantly seeing new innovation and technology being developed, while this is exciting it can be overwhelming to have so many new concepts thrown at the market almost constantly.
Solar roof tiles are no exception, and while they bring new benefits it’s important to understand their purpose and the type of installation they are suitable for in order to make the best use of this exciting innovation. If this is something that interests you but you feel like you need to know more before you can make a decision then you’re in the right place, welcome to your guide on solar roof tiles!
Key Takeaways:
Solar Roof Tiles vs. Traditional Panels: While both solar roof tiles and traditional solar panels convert sunlight into electricity, solar tiles do double duty. Not only do they generate power, but they also serve as your roof, providing weather protection. This makes them a great option if you want a sleek, integrated design that blends seamlessly with your home.
Perfect for Challenging Roofs: If your roof’s design or positioning makes it tough to install traditional solar panels, solar roof tiles could be a game-changer. They offer a solution without the hassle of drilling holes or using heavy equipment, and they integrate directly into the roofing, which reduces the risk of damage during installation.
Higher Initial Cost and Complex Installation: One downside is that solar roof tiles come with a hefty price tag, partly because they're still a relatively new technology. Installation also requires a mix of experts, from roofers to electricians, making it a more complex and costly process compared to standard solar panel setups.
Efficiency and Longevity: Solar roof tiles generally have lower efficiency (10-23%) compared to traditional solar panels (18-25%). While this might improve over time as the technology evolves, it's something to consider if efficiency is a top priority for you. Additionally, since this is newer tech, finding repair services or getting parts may be more difficult in the future.
What Are Solar Roof Tiles?
Solar roof tiles, or a solar roof, work much the same way as your conventional PV modules. They capture the sunlight before turning this into electricity and of course sending this energy through a solar inverter to power your home. They are almost like small compact, tile sized solar panels that fit together to give the illusion of a typical roof design while still producing solar electricity.
One of the main differences between solar tiles and traditional solar panels is purpose. While solar panels usually serve a singular purpose of providing the home with clean energy, solar roof tiles serve a dual purpose. Solar tiles not only generate electricity but they also provide protection against the elements, acting like a traditional roof set-up.
Benefits & Drawbacks of Solar Roof Tiles
This new technology is exciting and can bring about many benefits for those looking for a sleek, integrated solar installation, but that being said, this doesn’t mean they are without their downsides.
Advantages
Great for installation on difficult sites:
If you are unable to install solar panels on your home due to the design or the positioning of your roof then solar roof tiles could be a great way to still generate electricity from the sun without the complications relating to conventional panels.
Limited damage to your roof:
These small panels are a part of your roof design, meaning there is no need for drilling holes or bringing heavy equipment onto the roof, this seamless integration minimises the risk of roof damage associated with a traditional panel installation.
Offers better protection against severe weather:
Conventional solar panels can place greater stress on your roof during extreme weather conditions, strong winds, heavy rainfall and hail and severe storms in general can pose significant risk to solar panels, this risk is reduced using roof tiles as they sit completely flat as a part of the roofing.
Aesthetically pleasing:
The main benefit of solar roof tiles is their aesthetics. Many prefer this option as the seamless integration with the rest of the roof makes the installation more understated and visually appealing. Additionally, these tiles come in a range of designs allowing you to still achieve the look you want for your home.
Disadvantages
Initial cost of installation:
Solar roof tiles are a recent innovation, making them far more expensive than a conventional solar set-up. Additionally, the solar tiles are often only available as part of a custom whole roof solution and aren’t able to be a retrofit installation, further increasing the price.
More complicated installation process:
This isn’t just a solar installation, this is a roofing install, meaning licensed electricians/solar installers aren’t the only people required to contribute to the process. You will also need to employ building contractors and competent roofers as part of your installation team.
Repairs & maintenance:
This is a new technology, while this is exciting, it also means that there are fewer companies out there offering repairs and servicing should anything go wrong. The use of solar roof tiles isn't as widespread which raises the concern of support availability and the brand’s longevity in the market.
Efficiency & Design:
The efficiency of the solar roof tile system is greatly dependent on the number of tiles and the positioning of them, formulating the best system design possible is imperative as removing and relaying the tiles is both a difficult and costly process.
Solar Roof Tile Efficiency
Although this technology is new and innovative, this does not directly translate to higher efficiency. Solar roof tiles have a rate of efficiency of around 10-23%, when this is compared with the efficiency of a conventional PV module which sits around 18-25% we see that they fall short of the current standards set by solar panels. That being said this doesn’t mean that over the coming years as the technology develops this rating won’t improve. Despite their lower efficiency these tiles are still a great option for many who are looking for a sleek, aesthetically pleasing installation.
Solar Roof Tiles vs Standard Modules
Solar roof tiles are an exciting new technology, but how do they stand up against the tried and tested PV modules more commonly seen today?
There are some clear benefits to solar roof tiles, there's no denying they are far more aesthetically pleasing than standard panels as they seamlessly integrate with your home, all the while generating energy for the home. Additionally where traditional panels may pose a risk of damage to your roof both in the installation process and during extreme weather events, Solar Roof Tiles actually add an additional layer of protection for your home.
That being said, traditional PV modules are tried and tested, your expectations are clear and the operation of this technology is well understood. Additionally conventional solar panels have a greater efficiency and lifespan and offer more comprehensive after sales support.
In all honesty, at this point in time it probably makes more sense to install a standard system. This is only due to the longevity of each product in the market. Traditional panels have been proven, with different brands known and trialled over recent decades. Solar Roof Tile technology is still new and as such lacks the product research & development of a trusted manufacturer.
That being said, this isn't to say that in the near future this technology won't continue to advance and could even overtake traditional panels in efficiency. Though for the moment, unless you're placing a great deal of importance on the look of your home/installation then the added cost and efficiency loss may not be worth it.
At 1K5° we offer a range of solar solutions from panels & batteries to heating and cooling systems.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions about Installing Solar Power
There are great government rebates/incentives still in place for eligible households. Basically, the larger the panel array, the more STCs your solar system generates as it is based on the expected output of the system over time.
When you buy a solar system, the purchase price is normally reduced by the value of the STCs created by your system. You simply fill out a form on the day of installation to confirm that the system has been installed, and that’s it. There is no additional paperwork that you need to do.
Small-scale Technology Certificates (STCs)
Small-scale Technology Certificates (STC’s) – previously known as Renewable Energy Certificates or RECS – are created when a Renewable Energy System such as a Solar PV system is installed.
The number of STC’s depends on the predicted amount of energy generated and hence the larger the system the greater the rebate. In essence, one STC is created for every megawatt-hour of production capacity of the system.
This is further multiplied by the number of years the system is likely to generate energy (for home solar systems, this is usually 15 years, although the life of the solar panels themselves is considerably more than that).
This incentive program is being phased out until 2030, so each year the number of certificates your system is eligible for reduces.
STC Price
The system for trading and pricing STCs for small systems is managed by the Small-scale Renewable Energy Scheme (SRES).
STCs are bought by Liable Parties (usually electricity retailers) and must be surrendered at the end of each quarter. As the number of STCs that are required to be surrendered is a fixed amount each year, but the number of STCs created is variable, the price paid for STCs also varies and is determined by supply and demand.
The Federal Government legislated in 2010 a fixed price for STCs by implementing a Clearing House system where STCs can be bought and sold for $40. However, there is no requirement for Liable Parties to purchase from the Clearing House, so they are likely to only do so if there is a shortage of STCs or the market price exceeds $40. There is currently a surplus of STCs in the market which means the market price of STC’s below $40
The Feed In Tariff is only something you need to worry about if you don’t have battery storage.
The price your chosen energy retailer pays for any excess electricity generated from your solar panels is recorded as a credit on your power bill.
In NSW, solar power is fed into your home as it is generated and your household will use it first before you draw power from the grid.
This means that for every kWh of solar power used in the home you are directly saving money you’d spend on your power bill. This reduction in your power bill is the main financial benefit of solar power.
Everything else will be bought up at an agreed rate by your electricity retailer.
At the moment, most feed-in tariffs are between 5 and 10 cents per kWh, with many being about 7 cents. They bounce up and down a lot, for example in previous years they have been up over 20 cents per kWh. Typically, they are always at least 5 cents per kWh.
Once you sign up for a 1KOMMA5° Installation, we immediately submit your grid application to the relevant energy distributor. For systems up to 5kWs, this is a formality. For larger systems it can take a few days or more. Once we receive approval, your installation will be managed by our installation coordinator, who will welcome you to 1KOMMA5° and book an installation date for you. This is generally booked within around two weeks and installation dates are available Monday to Friday, weather permitting.
We endeavour to have your system installed within 2-4 weeks unless you request us to hold for whatever reason. Due to our strict safety policy, we do not install solar systems when it rains. In the event of inclement weather, we will rebook your installation as soon as possible. We always work with your requests as we strongly recommend that someone be home on the day of installation.
Green Loans can be an affordable way to pay for your solar power system and is only available for approved products. As a Clean Energy Council Accredited installer, all our systems qualify.
Green Loans can be used to finance 1KOMMA5° systems from $1,000 to $30,000 over a 2-7 year term. Once you have received a referral from 1KOMMA5°, online approval usually occurs within 1-2 business days. Green Loans have a competitive fixed interest rate that is as low as 7.99% p.a.* | Comparison rate 9.21% p.a.^ Establishment fee of $299 added to the loan amount. $2.70 per week account keeping fee included in repayments.
To be eligible to apply you must:
Be over 18 years old and an Australian resident or citizen
Own or be purchasing a home
Be employed, self-employed, a self-funded retiree; or is receiving the Government Age Pension
Have an Australian driver’s license or Passport
Provide two most recent payslips or 90 days of bank statements
There are a number of good, competitive Green Loan providers – ask us about the options available.
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